The world of MMA will get to see T.J. Dillashaw again after quite some time. He is coming off a suspension and for his first fight back in the Octagon, he will face the dangerous Cory Sandhagen, who is looking to use this match as a stepping stone for a title fight down the road. Check out our preview and pick for this fight below.
Sandhagen took full advantage of the chances he was given after losing to Aljamain Sterling, who’s now the bantamweight champion, back in June 2020, as he knocked both his next two opponents out. First, he knocked Marlon Moraes in the second round of their fight in October 2020 then used a flying knee to knock former champion, Frankie Edgar, out as well in February 2021. Both wins also earned Fighter of the Year honors for Sandhagen, who will enter Saturday’s fight with a 6-0 knockout record and a 3-1 submission slate. Sandhagen will have a three-inch reach advantage when he meets Dillashaw inside the Octagon, plus he’s taller than the former champ by five inches. The 29-year-old Elevation Fight Team fighter is at his best when he’s trying to land strikes, though he’s also got some considerable skill on the ground. He is landing 6.85 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.07 takedowns per 15 minutes to go with a 50 percent takedown accuracy.
Dillashaw is making his long-awaited return to the Octagon this Saturday. The last time he saw action was in 2019 which was when he lost to Henry Cejudo via TKO in a title fight. After that, he was tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, causing him to be suspended for two years. People will talk about how rust could be a factor for Dillashaw, but on the other hand, his body has been damage-free for the last couple of years, so that could be a net positive for the 35-year-old fighter, whose striking and wrestling are nothing to scoff at. Dillashaw is averaging 5.37 significant strikes per minute on 41 percent accuracy. He is more productive in terms of takedowns than Sandhagen, as he owns an average of 1.68 takedowns per 15 minutes even though he has a poor 37 percent takedown accuracy. Conversely, he’s hard to bring to the mat, as he has an 86 percent takedown defense. Dillashaw has an 8-2 T/KO record and a 3-0 submission slate.
